Officer Frank G. Rappaport was killed during a gun battle with members of the Black Panther Party. Officer Rappaport and his partner entered a gangway between two buildings, when a man opened fire with a shotgun from a porch below, striking Officer Rappaport in the chest and his partner in the face and neck. The suspect then shot Officer Rappaport again as he lay on the ground, killing him.

He was survived by his wife and three children.